Labour announce new Lords Opposition Leader

Former Basildon MP Angela Smith has replaced Jan Royall as Labour’s leader in the House of Lords. Baroness Smith served in the Commons for 13 years before standing down in 2010, when she was given a peerage.

Baroness Royall announced a fortnight ago that she would be stepping down from her role after six years and Smith was elected unopposed to take on the mantle. She was previously deputy chief whip in the Lords and a shadow Home Office minister.

Steve Bassam remains Lords chief whip, with Philip Hunt as deputy leader.